My original intention was to post here once a week for a year and that year has pretty much come around. I am going to continue to post here, but sporadically. I'll always post a link at bee creative when I post something here. For the next year my food goals include tracking how much I actual...

After each of our Vermont retreats, we offer an extra gift bag as a giveaway to readers. Our generous friends and sponsors sent the prettiest things to share with you. Please visit their sites and shops and consider your holiday shopping lists while there. To enter the giveaway, leave a comment...

I envy you the first-time experience of Kristin Lavransdatter. I loved that trilogy and do believe it's time for a reread. And I might read S. Undset's other books, too, now that you've touched on this. :)

It's been kind of a challenging week, and I don't even know why. I feel like I have a million things to say but no time to say them, here or in real life. I'm whirling and scattered, and trying to keep track. To simplify, I apparently started to do...

My brother came to visit and asked me how I was able to get anywhere in the garden. I replied, "With a pair of clippers in my hand." Good thing I pulled the bindweed out of the blueberries...they are early this year. Short post up at bee creative cooking.

Without an inkling of a plan, I took a handful of cloth on our trip. After finding the tree and cloud in the dyed spots of the cloth, a moon was in order. Inspired by Jude's sharings in her new series "Considering Weave", the moon began to grow. Working so closely ...

As you know by now, one of the things we do for our retreat is prepare gift bags that are placed on each bed before guests' arrival. Each is full of the fabulous goodies donated by our generous sponsors. There is always one extra which we offer here as a giveaway. To enter the giveaway, ple...

A year ago, Moon and I sat on the porch as I told him of our decision to have him switch schools for his last year of elementary school, and that I would be leaving my job at the school, as well. We both cried, but we both thought it was for the best, even if it was going to be hard. ...

Gorgeous strawberries! I can only imagine because if we grow them, they're either stunted or half eaten by critters and if we buy them, they're huge and not that great-tasting. But you do live in strawberry country, after all, right? :) xo

A whole flat of strawberries = frozen strawberries, strawberries to snack on, strawberry jam, strawberries and scones and pickled strawberries... Pickled strawberries are good. If I can come up with some buttermilk I'm going to try strawberry soup, which really sounds like a smoothie.

A while ago, I considered parting with a lot of the scraps of self around here. As part of my lessening campaign. I had planned to put them in the shop. I reconsidered that idea. Sorting through this cloth that is so close to me, with a merchant mind, was not sitting well. Not at all. ...

A growing tree-ring slice of a heart. Something solid and strong, that reflects where she's been, and might go. *underpin -"to prop up or support from below; strengthen, as by reinforcing a foundation."

After a little more talking to myself. I cut through some confusion. I didn't want to do this. I needed to. To open a personal space not committed to either side. Because it seemed 2 ways. I think there is peace now. A third way. And still Just Going. All the while considering the relat...

I've been tidying a bit today and realized that I liked some of the strips I knit earlier as a blanket better than the tube I made last week. This was knit on larger needles. As for the tube... it makes a nice cuff. And while I still want to make a poncho this won't be it. I'm going to pu...

Cindy, this is huge. Your time, your skill, your teaching helped make this come to be. It's just wonderful. Makes me realize how much we need teachers and mothers like you. That Moon will grow into a good man, I know. xoxoxo

Can you identify the celebrities in the photo? No, it's not the man in the suit, that's just the mayor of Seattle. They are the children, who are sharing their Underground Railroad quilt squares and stories with him. The squares were on display at City Hall for an event put on by t...

Oh, I really like this post, Cindy. Whole new worlds being made.
And I love the blues in several photos in the previous post -- how they match -- beautiful. I'm starting to associate that perfect shade of blue with you! xoxo

A spot on one side of "uncertainty". The sides have flip-flopped in my mind. I rarely look at the other side, what began as the focus. It makes for surprise moments when I do. A new story, created without intention. You just never know what all you might be doing.

This is so great, especially the labor story. When I wanted an upper ear piercing, one of my boys was horrified and talked me out of it. Then a few years later my girls tried to talk me into have my nose pierced. I didn't do either but always wish I would've done my nose even though I don't really want it now. How did I miss the tattoo? Have you shown it?
I'm not a girly-girl either although I admire people who are because it certainly seems like a lot of work. And I loved your dream and what you made of it. xoxo

Here are the results of hanging out with a girlfriend last night. I am not a girly-girl, never have been, wouldn't know how to be. The last time I had nail polish on was sixteen years ago, I was in labor with Blue. I had painted one hand the day before, but was too hot, tired and huge ...

1# Hazel snacking on the willow I brought inside. 2# The single blossom on my Camilla. I planted it a couple years ago. Hopefully next year there will be more. #3 "Why is beauty an actually good way of devising our ideas about the universe? Why are they confirmed by nature? Why does natur...

These are beautiful and what photos! Speaking of aligning and learning -- I'm so happy about your new class, feels like home even though it's new (and I'm usually one of the silent ones). Maybe that'll change. :)

By Touching Three studies from the Basket series. Touching. And then the thought of alignment, things touching and lining up. The Basket, being considered my symbol for self. Baskets. Selves. I think we learn from alignment. Like a moment that creates a new order. A snapping into place...

I wish the light would cooperate, I wish I could share the softness of it, and I wish there were words for the story it holds, "as it is, and should be" comes close. "self-sandwich: signs of contentment"